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Tuesday, March 20, 2018

CCDL - Public Testimony Tips

With
a public hearing on gun bills set for this Friday, it's time to repost
our tips for preparing public testimony for the legislature - written
and in person.

Legislative Testimony “Tip Sheet” originally published on 1/25/2013

Overview:

Testifying
(in person or written testimony) may seem like a daunting task at
first. Use this “tip sheet” to help you as you prepare for your
testimony. Regardless of how you testify (in person or written) many
items are still the same. However, if you plan to submit written
testimony AND testify in person, you do not need to stick to your
written testimony. This is particularly helpful if you have knowledge of
a particular subject that was not answered in previous testimony.

Keep
all your testimony brief and “stick to the facts”. It is also helpful
if you personalize your written testimony and explain how a bill will
affect you. This also makes it easier for you to not repeat the same
facts and testimony of previous speakers. If your written testimony is
essentially the same as previous speakers, tell the committee you agree
with previous speakers and you are available to answer any questions.

Regardless of how you testify, the following should always be included:

Your name

Where you’re from (city/state)

State whether you support or oppose the bill

Use the bill number and title of the bill (EX: HB 1234 An Act Concerning Firearms)

Summarize your recommendation first and then add any needed explanation

Restate your position on the bill

Thank
the legislators for their time and consideration of your position.
Provide contact information and offer to answer any questions.

BE RESPECTFUL—never use derogatory names or threaten/antagonize

If you are testifying in person, here are a few more tips:

Each
committee has a different operating procedure, however most only allow 3
minutes of testimony. You will be timed, and a buzzer or bell will
sound once your time is up. If you hear that sound, please wrap it up as
soon as you can. CAVEAT: If at the end of the 3 minutes, a legislator
asks you a question, you may continue to speak to answer that question.
However, please be respectful of time and try not to be excessive.

If
you cannot cover all the information in the required 3 minutes, add it
to the written testimony you submitted and note to the legislators that
there is more you provided in writing

Rehearse your testimony. Anticipate questions and answers to those questions

If you DO NOT know the answer to a question, say so! Offer to get the correct information to the legislator or their aid as soon as possible.

Arrive and sign up early to testify.

Bring
enough copies of your testimony. This is often stated when a hearing
will take place. Bring a few extra copies so you have a copy to go over
and practice before you speak. Not all committees allow testimony to be
submitted electronically.

Dress
appropriately for testimony. Business dress or business casual is
preferred. No cammo, Printed T-shirts, etc. No hats. Your testimony may
be televised.

Make sure cell phones are “muted” or turned off

Adjust and speak directly into the microphone. You should be no more than six inches from the microphone.

Avoid technical jargon. Many legislators are not familiar with terms and acronyms.

Plan
to spend the entire day at the legislature. You may not have to, but
depending on how testimony is organized (it could be by lottery) you may
be there all day. Make sure plans are made with babysitters and
employers ahead of time. It’s not uncommon for hearings to go through
the evening hours.

Bring food or snacks (there is a cafeteria and auxiliary store).

DO NOT threaten or antagonize or argue with the legislators

DO NOT bring weapons into the legislature.

DO
NOT clap, cheer or jeer during testimony. It only slows down the
process and just doesn't make us look good. Respect is key here.

If
you have the time, make a visit to the Legislative Office Building
(LOB) ahead of time and sit in on a hearing. This will give you a good
idea of what to expect. Many of the hearings are also online at www.ct-n.com (The CT Network)

Statistics
Avoid using outdated statistics. Also, make sure your sources are valid.
I.e. if a legislator sees you reference for a statistic is a known
biased “news” (Fox, MSNBC, Breitbart, etc.) outlet, it may be called
into question (perceived bias). There are some GREAT resources for
firearms statistics that help you avoid a perceived bias.

Gunfacts.info – www.gunfacts.info
This site has a downloadable book (available for purchase as well).
GREAT information. All statistics are referenced in footnotes of every
page.

Connecticut Citizens Defense League – www.ccdl.us – keep current on issues affecting Connecticut.
CCDL also maintains an active presence regarding legislative efforts and
informs members as soon as information is made available. CCDL is free
to join and email lists are not shared with any other source.

NRA-ILA – National Rifle Association, Institute for Legislative Action – www.nraila.org – NRA-ILA maintains a large web site with information on legislative issues around the nation.

Connecticut General Assembly – www.cga.ct.gov
– Lookup feature to find who your legislators are and how to contact
them. Bill tracking – this allows you to read the language and any
updates that may have been made. Hearing dates and times and any
specific information for that hearing day (How many copies of testimony,
etc.).

Books:

More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws, Third Edition, John R. Lott Jr. (Author) [Paperback][Kindle] John R. Lott Jr. (Author)

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